Improvement in machine for moving- boats on canals



WILLIAM R. KING, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT CF COLUMBIA.

Letters Patent No. 99,323, dated February 1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINE FOR MOVING BOATS ON CANALS.

The Schedule referred to'in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe same I, WILLIAM R. KING, of the United States Corps of Engineers, now residing in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented a Machine for Applying Motive-Power to Boats, (n canals and elsewhere,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of my. invention is to secure a practicable and economical application of steam or other motor to the propulsion -of boats, or other vessels, upon canals, certain river-channels, or any othersuitable Water- V way.

no part of my invention-4 First, a canal or any other suitablechannelor waterway. j

Second, a boat or vessel, of any desired form or dimensions.

Third, a steam-engine, or other suitable cated upon any convenient part of the boat.

My invention consists of two principal parts, (See I will assume Ias already existing, but as forming motor, lo-

A annexed drawing,) viz;

First, an axle, D E, connected with the motor C, hy belts and pulleys, cog-wheels, or in any other prac` ticable manner, and carrying a driving-wheel at the end E. This axle is placed preferably near the bow of the boat, and nearly at right angles to a vertical plane through its keel, though it is not limited to any particular direction lor position. It has ,a telescopic or sliding joint, J, which may be allowed to slide freely for a certain distance, or it may be firmly clamped, The connection of this as circumstances may require. axle with the boat, at D, is made by a universal joint, K, which will allow any'desired horizontal traverse to the axle, and will accommodate any accidental difference of level between the deck of the boat and the rail, without bringing. an undue strain upon the bearing. The direction of the axle, with respect to the boat, is maintained by the brace G H. The drivewheel E may be provided with ledges or projections on its circumference, (similar to those upon a mowingmachine drive-wheel,) and allowed to roll upon the tow-path, or it may be grooved, and caused to roll upon a rail, as hereinafter described. In the former case, the wheel and axle will constitute the essential parts of my invention; that is, the wheel and axle being revolved by the motor, the boat will be propelled along the canal.

I prefer, however, to add a second principal part,'as

j follows Second, a fixed rail, A B, parallel to the side ofthe canal, and at a convenient distance from the outer side of the boat. This rail may be made of a light pattern of railroad-iron, of cast-iron, or of wood, and should be supported at intervals by vertical or inclined posts p 1) p, of wood or iron, firmly secured in the bank `o r wall of the canal. The grooved wheel E, if made ot' snicient weight to give the necessary tractile force upon the rail, would draw the boat, but it will be found best to add the extra` grooved wheel F, which runs under the rail, the axle of this wheel and that of the wheel E being drawn together by the strain upon the brace G H applied throughthe knee-joint EG F.

It will be seen that by making the angle at E less than thelimiting angle of friction, the force of traction will increase faster than the strain upon the brace, or, what is the same-thing, the resistance of the boat, and the driving-wheel E will not, therefore, slip on -the rail, however great the resistance of the boat may be.

The wheels E and F may, if desired, be connected by cogs, which will double the force of traction, and the angles at E and F may be made twice the limiting angle of. friction, without reducingr the force of traction below what is required to4 draw the boat.

When the motor is stopped or reversed, the kneejoint will release the wheels from the rails, and they may be swung aboard the boat, for the purpose ofentering locks, or passing other boats, (in case the canal has a rail upon one side onl n) j lo enable boats to run in either direction upon the same rail, the drive-wheel may be shifted from side to side of the boat by swinging the axle one hundred and eighty degrees, horizontally about the pivot K, and making the proper adjustments ofthe brace G H, and the belt, or other connection with the motor.

Inorder to facilitate this last operation, the pivot K may have two sockets, which will bring the pulley in the centre line of the boat, whichever side the drive-wheel may occupy.

Claims. l

What Iclaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the axle D E, knee-joint E G F, wheels E and F, and brace G H, by means of which the resistance of the boat is made to compress the wheels against the rail A B, andv thus secure the traotile force required to propel the boat, substantially as an for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the knee-jointE G F, whe-els E and F, rail A B, and bracel G H, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The flexible and extensible connection of the axle with the beat, by means of the universal joint K and the telescopic joint J, substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

Witnesses:

A. Moons, i JAMnsL. Nolml's.

WV. R. KING. 

